1 ChroniclesChapter 13

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David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader.

Then David said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in the cities where they have their pasturelands, that they should gather to us,

and let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."

The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the plan seemed right in the eyes of all the people.

So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor Brook in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God up from Kiriath Jearim.

David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim in Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who is enthroned above the cherubim, the ark that bears his name.

They moved the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it.

David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, with songs and lyres and harps, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.

Then the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah, so he named that place Perez Uzzah, and it is called that to this day.

David was afraid of God that day, and he said, "How can I ever bring the ark of God home to me?"

So David did not take the ark with him to the City of David, but had it turned aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

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Summary2

Chapter 13

Main Theme: David's first attempt to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem fails due to a violation of God's holiness.

Content: David consults with the leaders and all Israel about bringing God's ark from Kiriath-Jearim, since it had not been sought during Saul's days. They transport the ark on a new cart with great celebration, but at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark when the oxen stumble, and God strikes him dead. David becomes both angry and afraid, and leaves the ark in the house of Obed-Edom for three months, where God blesses his household.

Key Words/Images:

Ark of God (אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים): The symbol of God's presence among the people, requiring reverence and proper handling.
Perez-Uzzah: A place name that recalls God's breakthrough against Uzzah, serving as a warning about God's holiness.
The house of Obed-Edom: Shows that the ark brings blessing when treated correctly.
New cart: An incorrect method of transport that ignored God's instructions that the Levites were to carry the ark.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for 1 Chronicles 13

People

Uzza and Ahio were connected to the house of Abinadab, where the ark of the covenant had stood for several decades after the Philistines returned it (1 Sam 7:1-2). The family's long association with the ark may have led to a certain familiarity with this holy object. Uzza’s death illustrates that even extensive experience with sacred things does not override God’s requirement for reverence and proper handling.

Obed-Edom the Gittite is mentioned as the one who received the ark into his home. The designation "the Gittite" may indicate that he was from Gath (a Philistine city) or belonged to the Levitical family from Gath-Rimmon. Chronicles later identifies him as a Levite and gatekeeper (1 Chron 15:18, 21, 24; 16:5), which explains why the ark could safely be placed with him.

Places

Kiriath-Jearim (also called Baalath, see verse 6: בַּעֲלָתָה) was located about 15 kilometers west of Jerusalem on the border between Judah and Benjamin. This place had been the ark’s resting place since the Philistines returned it, making it a natural starting point for David to retrieve Israel’s most holy object. The city lies in the hill country of Judah.

Kidon (the threshing floor) is the place where Uzza died. In 2 Samuel 6:6, this location is called "Nakon." This variation may be due to different local traditions, the site having multiple names, or textual variations in transmission. Threshing floors were often situated on open, flat areas with good wind exposure, frequently on elevated ground—terrain that could prove challenging for oxen pulling a cart.

Events and Customs

Transporting the ark on a cart was a method Israel had learned from the Philistines, who had sent the ark back on a new cart pulled by cows (1 Sam 6:7-8). However, according to the Mosaic Law, the ark was to be carried on poles by Levites from the Kohathite clan (Num 4:15; 7:9). David’s choice of transport method, though seemingly practical and respectful with a "new cart," contradicted God’s commands. The Chronicler later emphasizes that this error was corrected (1 Chron 15:13-15).

The musical celebration described in verse 8 includes a wide range of instruments: harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. This provides insight into Israelite cultic music and anticipates Chronicles’ strong interest in Levitical singing and music in temple service.

Key Terms

"The Lord who sits enthroned above the cherubim" (יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרוּבִים, yoshev ha-keruvim) is an important title that connects the ark with God’s throne. The cherubim on the cover (the mercy seat) were the place where God met with his people. This expression underscores that the ark was not merely a relic but God’s visible throne on earth.

"Perez-Uzza" means "breakthrough against Uzza" or "Uzza’s breach." The wordplay on the Hebrew word פֶּרֶץ (perets – to break through, tear down) shows how places were often named after dramatic events. The name served as a lasting reminder that God must be approached on his own terms.

People6

David6 Abinadab (son of Jesse, brother of David)1 Obed-Edom2 Ahjo1 Uzzah3 Jacob1

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Key words7

Ark — Holy chest that contained Israel's holy relics, including the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.
David — King David was the second king of Israel and a central figure in the Old Testament. In 1 Chronicles 13 he wants to bring the ark to Jerusalem.
Uzza — A man from David's time who died when he touched the ark during transport, which was forbidden.
Jerusalem — The holy city and capital of ancient Israel, the place where David wanted to place the ark.
Philistines — A people who lived in Canaan and were enemies of Israel. They had previously taken the ark, but returned it after experiencing plagues.
Abinadab — A man who took care of the ark in his house after the Philistines returned it to Israel.
Eleazar — Abinadab's son, appointed by David to look after the ark in his father's house.